Epidemiology

Etiology

• Electrolyte imbalances (e.g., hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia)
• Caffeine
• Alcohol
• Drugs (e.g., digoxin)

Pathophysiology

• The extra, abnormal heartbeats in PVC are caused by ectopic foci within the ventricles.
• ↓ Diastolic filling time → ↓ stroke volume

Clinical features

Diagnostics

ECG

• QRS duration ≥ 120 ms with a blocklike QRS morphology
• There is no P wave before a premature QRS complex.
• Compensatory pause after the PVC

Treatment